England moved from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in the hope they have got a regrettable 'false start' to their Test series against Pakistan out of their system.

The majority of Andrew Strauss' team also welcomed wives and girlfriends to the United Arab Emirates, having left them behind for the first three weeks on tour.

There was an optimism about the camp therefore, despite their 10-wicket hammering at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, as they prepared for the two-hour road trip to their base for this week's second Test.

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Wicketkeeper Matt Prior acknowledged he and his team-mates were caught cold by Pakistan, having played no Test cricket since last August and just two three-day warm-up matches after their arrival here.

'You can spend as much time in the gym and as much time in the nets or on the training ground - but until you're out in the middle, you don't get that ring-ready feeling,' he said.

'It's getting used to little things - the nerves, travelling into the ground. I felt, in that first innings, I had to get used to switching on and off again.'

England are nonetheless thankful for the essential time off allowed by a hectic international schedule, which will become ever more so from now on over the next three years.

'Having a two or three-month break was invaluable. It was needed,' Prior added.

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'It was necessary but obviously it is then tough to come back in and be ready.'

World Test No 1 side England are 1-0 down with two to play, and consequently have a tough task on their hands against fast-improving and in-form opponents.

But Prior reports they are definitely ready now for what lies ahead.

'It's never nice to lose, but to lose in that fashion is even worse,' he said.

'We've had some time to reassess and move on now and we've put that Test to bed.